Surgical device having a rotatable jaw portion

Abstract

A surgical device is provided that includes a jaw portion, having a first jaw in opposed correspondence with a second jaw, the second jaw including a surgical member. The surgical device may include a shaft portion coupled to a proximal end of the jaw portion and at least one motor configured to rotate the jaw portion relative to the shaft portion, to move the jaw portion relative to the shaft portion, move the first jaw relative to the second jaw and move the surgical member within the second jaw. The surgical member may be prevented from moving within the second jaw unless the first jaw is in a closed position relative to the second jaw. Advantageously, the surgical member may include one or both a cutting element or a stapling element, disposed within one of the jaws.

1. A surgical device comprising:
 a jaw portion, having a first jaw in opposed correspondence with a second jaw, the second jaw including a surgical member; 
 a shaft portion coupled to a proximal end of the jaw portion; 
 a gear arrangement configured to operate such that the jaw portion is rotatable relative to the shaft portion, the jaw portion is moveable relative to the shaft portion, the first jaw is moveable relative to the second jaw and the surgical member is moveable within the second jaw, wherein the surgical member is prevented from moving within the second jaw unless the first jaw is in a closed position relative to the second jaw, wherein when the first jaw is in an open position relative to the second jaw, the jaw portion is rotatable relative to the shaft portion; 
 a gear element selectively engaged based upon a position of the first jaw relative to the second jaw, wherein the gear element is an idler gear that is moveable between a proximal position and a distal position; 
 a cam block moveable between a proximal position and a distal position, wherein the cam block includes a surface, wherein the cam block is moved between its proximal and distal positions by engagement of the surface thereof with a surface of one of the first and second jaws when the first and second jaws are moved relative to each other, and wherein the idler gear is moved between its proximal and distal positions by engagement of the cam block with the idler gear. 
 
     
     
       2. The surgical device of  claim 1 , wherein, when the idler gear is in a distal position, the idler gear engages recesses of a housing. 
     
     
       3. The surgical device of  claim 2 , wherein, when the idler gear engages the recesses of the housing, rotation of the idler gear by a drive element causes the jaw portion to rotate relative to the shaft portion. 
     
     
       4. The surgical device of  claim 3 , wherein, when the idler gear is in a proximal position, the idler gear is out of engagement with the recesses of the housing, such that the idler gear is rotatable relative to the housing. 
     
     
       5. The surgical device of  claim 4 , wherein, when the idler gear is out of engagement with the recesses of the housing, rotation of the idler gear by the drive element causes the surgical member to move within the second jaw. 
     
     
       6. The surgical device of  claim 5 , wherein the surgical member includes at least one of a cutting element and a stapling element. 
     
     
       7. A method of using a surgical device, the surgical device including a jaw portion that has a first jaw in opposed correspondence with a second jaw, the second jaw including a surgical member, and a shaft portion coupled to a proximal end of the jaw portion, the method comprising the steps of:
 operating the surgical device so as to selectively rotate the jaw portion relative to the shaft portion, move the jaw portion relative to the shaft portion, move the first jaw relative to the second jaw, and move the surgical member within the second jaw; 
 locking the surgical member from moving within the second jaw unless the first jaw is in a closed position relative to the second jaw; 
 rotating the jaw portion relative to the shaft portion when the first jaw is in an open position relative to the second jaw; 
 providing a gear element and selectively engaging the gear element based upon a position of the first jaw relative to the second jaw wherein the step of providing the gear element includes providing an idler gear that is moveable between a proximal position and a distal position; 
 providing a cam block that is moveable between a proximal position and a distal position, wherein the cam block includes a surface, and further comprising the step of moving the cam block between its proximal and distal positions by engagement of the surface with a surface of one of the first and second jaws when the first and second jaws are moved relative to each other; and 
 moving the idler gear between its proximal and distal positions by engagement of the cam block with the idler gear. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the step of the idler gear engaging recesses of a housing when the idler gear is in a distal position. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein, when the idler gear engages the recesses of the housing, rotation of the idler gear by a drive element causes the jaw portion to rotate relative to the shaft portion. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the steps of:
 moving the idler gear to a proximal position such that the idler gear is out of engagement with the recesses of the housing; and 
 rotating the idler gear relative to the housing. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein, upon rotating the idler gear by the drive element, the surgical member is moved within the second jaw. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the surgical member includes at least one of a cutting element and a stapling element, and the step of moving the surgical member includes at least one of cutting and stapling a section of tissue.